In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, the Delta State Police Command has confirmed that several individuals suspected of operating an Internet fraud academy, referred to as Hustlers Kingdom, are currently facing trial. This development follows a major operation in which approximately 123 suspects were apprehended in the Warri area of Delta State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, shared insights about the arrests during an exclusive conversation with PUNCH Metro. The situation came to light when soldiers from the 3rd Battalion Nigerian Army executed a raid on the academy, which was allegedly involved in training young individuals in cybercriminal activities. Following the raid, the suspects were handed over to the police for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.
In a post on social media, Edafe detailed the circumstances leading to the arrests. According to him, one of the suspects managed to reach out to a family member using a laptop provided by the academy's operators. After revealing the troubling situation he was trapped in, the family promptly alerted the military, which resulted in the timely intervention that led to the arrest of the suspects, many of whom were teenagers.
The academy’s operations were deceptive, luring young men with the false promise of training in Bitcoin trading and Forex investment. Instead, these individuals found themselves ensnared in Hustlers Kingdom, a notorious network dedicated to cybercrime. Edafe elaborated on the modus operandi of the operators, stating, “They engage agents who use social media to showcase fabricated wealth, enticing unsuspecting young men aged 17 to 20 with offers to teach them about forex and cryptocurrency trading.”
He further revealed that some victims were lured from various states, including Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, and Oyo, only to be subjected to physical abuse and poor living conditions. Edafe described the harrowing treatment the victims received, stating, “They were often beaten and fed sporadically, with no regard for their well-being.”
In a subsequent update, Edafe confirmed that several of the arrested operators have since been charged in court. “Those arrested have been charged to court,” he stated succinctly in a WhatsApp message.
Among the victims was Gbolahan Olaide, who recounted his traumatic experience of being held captive for nine months within the academy. Olaide disclosed that he was invited to Warri by a friend under the pretense of financial assistance for a trip to Cairo, Egypt. After struggling to gather the necessary funds, he felt compelled to accept the invitation. However, upon arrival, his situation took a grave turn.
“I was picked up at the park and taken to a different location where I was locked up with other victims. They informed me that returning home was not an option, and I was coerced into learning Internet fraud,” Olaide recounted. He described the brutal conditions he endured, explaining that he was beaten severely, leading to a loss of bodily control and even spitting blood.
Despite the violence, Olaide was forced into participating in fraudulent activities aimed at deceiving unsuspecting victims online. “We were trained to hack Facebook accounts using phone numbers as passwords and to lure foreigners into sending us money by pretending to be in romantic relationships with them,” he revealed.
The Delta State authorities are actively investigating the operations of the academy, and Gbolahan, along with other victims who endured similar fates, will also be facing charges in court.
